News from NYU Langone Health
Child Walks Again After Receiving Experimental Treatment For Rare Genetic Condition. (STAT)
(7/9) Scientists employed “a recent biochemical discovery to help an 8-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition regain mobility;” in a study published in Nature, NYU Langone Health researches demonstrated “how a chemical precursor to a commonly available enzyme, CoQ10, can help brain cells overcome a rare genetic condition that severely hobbles cells’ energy production process.” Michael E. Pacold, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, said about CoQ10: “It’s safe. It’s reasonably effective at treating symptoms outside of the brain, but almost completely ineffective at treating symptoms within the brain, because it doesn’t get through the blood-brain barrier.” Claire Miller, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology, who specializes in treating children with movement disorders, shared that “the boy’s recovery meant more than how effective the treatment was. ‘Movement is identity and personality,’ she told STAT. ‘The beautiful thing about movement is that’s how we express our identities and our personalities.’”
(7/9) The experimental treatment was developed by Michael E. Pacold, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, with special FDA permission; Claire Miller, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology, said the family was “so scared when we met,” but now the boy can walk significant distances and perform daily activities, highlighting the potential of this first-in-human trial to benefit others with similar conditions, though further research is needed to confirm its efficacy and understand the treatment mechanism.
Also reporting are The (7/9) and (7/9).
NJ Woman Hospitalized With Liver Damage From Turmeric Supplement After Seeing NBC News Report. (NBC News)
(7/9) A New Jersey woman, Katie Mohan, experienced severe liver damage from high doses of turmeric supplements, leading to hospitalization, with Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, MD, MBA, PhD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, saying, “Katie actually was one step before full liver damage, liver failure, requiring liver transplant.”
Also reporting is (7/8).
Brain Health: Its ‘Biological Age’ Might Be Able To Predict Your Life Span, Stanford University Study Says. (Newsday (NY))
(NY) (7/9) A Stanford University study has developed a blood test tool using AI to predict life span based on organ aging, with Thomas M. Wisniewski, MD, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman Professor of New York University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, associate chair, Department of Neurology, and professor, Departments of Pathology, and Psychiatry, associate chair, Research, Department of Neurology, saying the study “could help deliver better health care by telling people what appropriate lifestyle changes they can make to change the trajectory of their lives.”
Get Patients to Take Their BP Meds? Intervention Falls Short. (Medscape)
(7/10) An intervention by primary care teams at 10 sites in New York, as part of a study by Saul B. Blecker, MD, associate professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, did not result in significantly greater medication adherence in patients with uncontrolled hypertension compared to usual care, with adherence improving by 18% in both groups over one year; the intervention involved automated identification of nonadherence and clinical decision support, but the mean proportion of days covered was similar between groups, and changes in systolic blood pressure were comparable, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology.
6 Reasons Paid Leave Is So Essential To New Moms’ Health. (What To Expect)
(7/9) Natasha J. Williams, EdD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Population Health, suggests paid leave can help mothers attend postpartum appointments, potentially reducing maternal morbidity, saying, “Using the health care system regularly and at the right time during pregnancy, as well as getting the right care after giving birth, may prevent adverse effects from getting worse.”
A Good Shower Is A Simple Shower, No Matter What Influencers Recommend. (AP)
The (7/9) Dermatologists criticize elaborate shower routines for potentially harming the skin and environment, emphasizing the need for routines that balance cleansing with hydration, while Lisa O. Akintilo, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, noted, “It’s nice to hear about skin care routines that do involve both cleansing and also providing hydration because that’s missing in a lot of people’s skin care routine.”
Also reporting are (7/9) and (7/9).
Considerations For Pre-Procedure Urinalysis, Periprocedural Antibiotics For OnabotA. (Urology Times)
(7/9) In an interview, Benjamin M. Brucker, MD, professor, Departments of Urology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, highlights the importance of pre-procedure urinalysis, prophylactic antibiotics, and optimal dosing for onabotulinumtoxinA in treating overactive bladder, noting, “If you are going to use urinalysis, you need to make sure it’s giving you data that’s meaningful.”
Can You Really Reverse Diabetes? Endocrinologists Reveal The Truth. (Prevention Magazine)
(7/9) Priya Jaisinghani, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, discusses how lifestyle changes and medications can lead to remission in certain diabetes cases, while highlighting new treatments like FDA-approved Lantidra for type 1 diabetes.
Venus Williams Says Fibroids Symptoms Were Dismissed For Years. (Healthline)
(7/9) Venus Williams, after a 30-year struggle with fibroids, found relief through treatment at NYU Langone Health’s Center for Fibroid Care, highlighting the importance of specialized care in managing this condition.
The Dirtiest Place On A Plane Is Actually Staring Right At Us. (9Travel (AUS))
(7/9) A survey by UK travel insurance company AllClear identified the seat pocket as the dirtiest spot on planes; Tania Elliott, MD, attending physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, said, “You’re not necessarily thinking about the person before you who’s potentially had, like, snot all over their hands,” recommending passengers bring their own blankets and pillows and avoid in-flight magazines.
5 Ways Your Hair Changes After 40 – And How To Care For It As You Age. (SELF Magazine)
(7/9) Hormonal changes during perimenopause, particularly a decrease in estrogen relative to testosterone, can lead to hair thinning and loss around age 40, although Kristin Lo Sicco, MD, associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and chief, Skin and Cancer Unit, mentions that environmental factors like sun exposure and pollutants contribute to hair dryness and brittleness; She advises regular health check-ups to rule out underlying conditions that could affect hair.
Everyone Compliments My Eyelashes – And It’s All Thanks To This Serum That’s On Sale Right Now. (Cosmopolitan)
(7/9) Cosmopolitan’s beauty editors have reviewed various eyelash growth serums, with Ilyse Haberman, MD, associate professor, and surgical scholar, Department of Ophthalmology, explaining that while these serums may not lengthen lashes, they can strengthen and thicken them, reducing breakage.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn
The Best Dry Mouth Treatment, Depending On The Cause. (SELF Magazine)
(3/12) Jessie Han, DDS, Flatbush Family Health Center—Brooklyn, highlights the impacts of xerostomia and potential treatments, noting that “Saliva keeps your mouth clean, comfortable, and protected,” and “when saliva production decreases, it can lead to a handful of oral issues” and affect digestion and quality of life.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Weather Related Changes Can Trigger Migraines. (KOSA-TV Odessa (TX))
Odessa, TX (7/10) Shae Datta, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology—Long Island, said that weather-related changes, such as moving from warm sun to air conditioning, can trigger migraines, which are more common in the summer months.
